And we all know that the acceptable criteria for liturgical development is the fun factor, cause religion is all about making a place for our own personal ideas of what makes you happy.

Much as I think that this is a lame thing to pick on (on Scot’s part). What is lamer is that someone went to the trouble to make this public. What the hell were they thinking? Locker51 you might be right she’s happy – and I can even imagine situations where this might make someone happy (or feel of value within the community) and actually have some redeeming value. But it begs the question of why on earth someone would video tape it, let alone put it on the internet. If it was the lady’s doing then I suggest any possible redeeming values letting her “perform” like this did not sink in. If it was the doing of someone else – were they trying to make a mockery of this lady? All we can be certain of is that this should not have been on tape, let alone on the internet.

In terms of liturgical development, there are serious problems with performance elements being introduced into worship. Before you think me a prude, I love corporate dancing in church and I am one of those (sometimes) flaky charismatics. But I have also studied a fair bit of liturgical theology. Enough to establish a serious critique of “special” dances (and songs for that matter) like this one. What does that say about the community? What does it say about worship? What does it say about he God that is worshipped there?

I have been an on-and-off pulpit minister since 1976 and yes, sadly and tragically I have accumulated many such experiences.

Sorry, but I dare not tell any horror stories as this is entered under my real name and can be found by Google, but maybe someday under a pseudonym or maybe telling the tales through my writing partner who frequents these lists …

However, I will tell you a tale that averts this trope hard …

We had an elderly missionary from Haiti who came to speak to our church and everything was going as predicted such as the slide display pointing out people that we didn’t know and would never meet, and then he pulled out a metal wood saw and a violin bow.

I cringed, his wife started to play the piano, he put the saw between his legs and drew the bow across it …

And we were treated to the most amazing display of Haitian ingenuity we have ever had the privilege of experiencing. He actually was jaw-dropping good and though a novelty, it actually was a pleasant memory for the church family.

However, my soul is already going into a fetal position as I remember other incidents …

Mind you, David was criticised by the “proper” (ai.e. bitchy) types for being a bit of a looney with his worship style.. so maybe this lady really is just a joyful, happy lady who loves to dance as an expression of worship? Although, there might be a less distracting place/time to do it?

I cringe at this sort of thing… but that’s becasue I’m culturally conditioned to find it “uncool”, maybe I’m the crazy one?